It’s hard to believe that fall is coming around again in Southern Vermont. It won’t be long before we’re trading our shorts for wool sweaters, munching on cider donuts, and taking in the jaw-dropping beauty that is the Vermont fall foliage season.
If you’re planning your Bennington fall foliage vacation, you’re in luck! We’ve compiled a comprehensive guide with all the very best things to do in Bennington this fall.
Read on to start planning a one-of-a-kind vacation that you can only have in Bennington, Vermont!
Take a Self-Guided Walking Tour in Old Bennington
While located entirely in the town of Bennington, a visit to Old Bennington, Vermont is a bit like stepping back in time. This historic village is home to fewer than 200 people, along with beautiful historic buildings, and a most colorful past.
Whether you’ve explored Old Bennington before or are visiting for the first time, there’s a lot to discover on an Old Bennington walking tour. Our self-guided tour of Old Bennington will lead you past some of the area’s most interesting historic sites, including the Old First Church, the Bennington Battle Monument, and the site of the former Catamount Tavern.
Put on your walking shoes, park your car at the Bennington, Museum, and don’t forget your camera.
Celebrate the Harvest Season in Bennington
The bounty of harvest season provides lots of opportunities to enjoy the local flavors of fall while taking in those spectacular fall foliage views. Here are some ideas for enjoying farm-fresh food and celebrating the harvest in and around Bennington.
Find the Perfect Pumpkin for Pies and Jack o’ Lanterns
Bright orange pumpkins are a harbinger of fall, and there’s no better place to pick your favorites than at Armstrong Farm on Route 7 just south of downtown Bennington.
Not only is Armstrong Farm a great, family-operated pumpkin patch, but they also sell fresh veggies, pure maple syrup, gourds, jams, and honey! This is a unique destination that you won’t want to miss.
Pick Apples at a Local Orchard
Apple picking is a quintessential fall activity and a fun family outing for all ages. Bennington is fortunate to have a great pick-your-own orchard just a few miles from downtown. Terry’s Orchard is a family-owned and operated orchard in Bennington, Vermont that is open for pick-your-own apples during the late summer and fall. Varieties include Cortland, Empire, Greening, Liberty, McIntosh, McCoun, Northern Spy, Red Delicious and many more.
Hours, starting September 3, 2021:
- Sunday: 9am-5pm
- Monday – 12-5pm
- Tuesday – 12-5pm
- Wednesday – 12-5pm
- Thursday – 12-5pm
- Friday – 12-5pm
- Saturday – Closed
Visit the Bennington Farmers’ Market
The Bennington Farmers’ Market is a year-round showcase of local farm products, including fresh meats, veggies, cheeses, baked goods, maple syrup, honey, and crafts. Visit the market every Saturday through the end of October from 10-1 at 100 Veterans Memorial Dr. (next to Deer Park off Route 7 north of 4 corners) in Bennington. The market features live music every Saturday and special events throughout the season. It’s a great place to connect with locals, enjoy some goodies, and find one-of-a-kind Vermont gifts.
Go for a Vermont Fall Foliage Drive in Southern Vermont
Make your home base in Bennington and embark on a few beautiful fall-foliage drives throughout Southern Vermont. We’ve compiled several fall foliage road trip options, lasting from a few hours to a full day.
Travel the back roads of Southern Vermont and the Northern Berkshires of Massachusetts to discover breathtaking views, unique museums and historic sites, and the small New England villages that make this area so special.
Get Outside in Bennington, Vermont
Fall is one of the best times to enjoy the outdoors in and around Bennington, Vermont. Our parks, back roads, and waterways are alive with color and just begging to be explored. Here are some ideas for getting outside in Bennington.
Go for an Autumn Hike
Lace-up your hiking boots and enjoy the colors on the trees and leaves crunching beneath your feet. The Bennington area has some of the best hiking in Vermont, as well as the most spectacular views.
For starters, check out our 5 favorite trails in Bennington to hike during fall foliage.
Discover Bennington’s Covered Bridges
Bennington County is home to five beautiful covered bridges, and you’ll find three of them right here in the towns of Bennington and North Bennington. All of the Bennington covered bridges cross the Walloomsac River, and they are all within a mile of each other, so you can visit them all in a very short period of time.
Local tip: The Walloomsac River is a fabulous trout stream, and according to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, much of it can be fished year-round.
Here’s a brief overview of the three covered bridges in Bennington and North Bennington, Vermont:
- Silk Covered Bridge – The Silk Covered Bridge crosses the Walloomsac on Silk Road, not far from its intersection with Route 67A in Bennington. This is a Town lattice truss bridge, built in 1840 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
- Paper Mill Village Bridge – The Paper Mill Village Bridge is another Town lattice truss bridge that carries Murphy Road across the Walloomsac River near its junction with Route 67A in Bennington. It was constructed in 1889 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
- Burt Henry Covered Bridge – The Henry Covered Bridge is located on River Road in North Bennington. Another Town lattice truss bridge, it was originally built in 1840 and rebuilt in 1989. The Henry Covered Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. There is a small parking and picnic area near the Henry Bridge. Be sure to visit North Bennington’s edible forest garden in McWaters Park, which is adjacent to the parking area.
Tour a Historic Home
Get a taste of Bennington history during your fall vacation with a tour of one of our historic homes turned museums.
The beautiful Victorian-era Park McCullough House was built in 1864 – 1865 by attorney and entrepreneur, Trenor Park, and is considered one of the finest and best-preserved Victorian mansions in New England. You can visit this beauty, the working farm behind it, and the lovely, Mile-Around-the-Woods hiking trail all in one afternoon. Park McCullough House is located in the village of North Bennington and is open for tours on weekends until the end of the fall foliage season. Admission is $15 per person.
For history on a smaller scale, check out the Robert Frost Stone House Museum on Route 7A in Shaftsbury, Vermont. This literary landmark was home to poet Robert Frost from 1920 – 1929, which was a prolific time period of his writing career. He composed many of his most famous works here, including “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” which was written on a hot June morning at his dining room table. The Robert Frost House is open from Thursday – Monday, 10 am – 4 pm, until the end of October.
Fall is one of the most beautiful seasons to explore the historic town of Bennington, Vermont. Whether you visit for an afternoon or a whole week, you’ll find plenty to do beyond leaf-peeping.